Market Value Query : SBIG ST-7 CCD

[andrew_d_cool]

Hi All,

I want to get a feel for the going market price for an

early model SBIG ST-7 CCD, parallel port, with CFW attachment.

Original padded case, power supply, etc.

Owned by a secondary school in Adelaide, who are looking to upgrade
to something slightly more modern ;-)

I've googled around, but the only ST-7's going second hand now are
more recent USB jobs.

Any info much appreciated.

Andrew

[jase]

:welcome: to IIS Andrew.

Do you know the CCD chip details by any chance? Being parrellel connected (which can be upgraded to USB btw) I would expect the chip to not include any form of microlensing. I'm also assuming the camera is self-guiding with a second chip (TC-211).

I would expect to pay between $700 - $1000. +$300 for the CFW. - Does it come with filters? This may change a few things.

[rogerg]

I'd say $1000 for the camera and about $600 for the CFW. Not that I've looked around just now, but only a few months ago CFW8's were rare as hens teeth because they are discontinued, and cost min AU$650ish (including filters - SBIG or Astronomik or something similar).

The ST7, even parallel (like mine) I'm less sure on but personally I think $700 is too cheep considering the cost and comparative capabilities of things like DSI's. It does depend on the chip as Jase said. I think $1000 is fair. Last I saw them being sold (a few months ago) I think they were around the US$1000 on astromart?

[jase]

It would appear that the CFW9's are now a 'dime a dozen' - certainly when you consider SBIG's latest offering/pricing structure on the ST series.
http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/announce_st_specials.htm

[andrew_d_cool]

Thanks for the replys.

According to the manual I have the ST-7 and ST-8 "include an exciting new feature - self guiding (patent applied for). These cameras have two CCDs inside..")

I'd have to check on the existence of the actual filters - the camera
has been idle for over a year I believe, and anything could have happened to the filters in a school environment.

Thanks again for he indicative price range! I was thinking $500 :lol:

Andrew

[Dennis]

Hi Andrew

ST7 = CCD Camera.
CFW8 or CFW8A = Motorised Filter Wheel.

The ST8 is also a CCD Camera, the bigger brother of the ST7, with a CCD chip over 4x the area of the ST7.

Cheers

Dennis

[rogerg]

Perhaps, but that's no good for an older parallel port camera, which won't have the aux port that the CFW9 requires.

Or am I missing something?

[Dennis]

Nope – you’re spot on, Roger. The new CFW9 will use the I2C port of the ST-7/8/9/10/2000 cameras and the older parallel ST7’s do not have an I2C port.

Cheers

Dennis

[jase]

Yes. Sorry you do need the I2C port for the CFW9. Its the CFW10 that you can either use I2C or RS232 ports. Also, it would appear that the parrallel to USB does not include the I2C upgrade.